2003 Volume 26 Issue 6 Pages 867-871
The characteristics of Glycyrrhiza plants from 12 collection sites in southeasten Kazakhstan were investigated. G. uralensis was observed at 9 of the sites from Almaty to Shu, and G. glabra was observed at 8 sites. At 4 sites near Shu, and 1 site near Almaty, G. glabra and G. uralensis grew together forming a mixed population, and intermediate-type plants between them were also observed at 3 sites. Although two nucleotide substitutions of the chloroplast rbcL gene were observed between G. uralensis and G. glabra, rbcL sequences of the intermediate-types were divided into G. uralensis-type (G-A type) and G. glabra-type (A-T type). HPLC analysis of the roots indicated that species-specific flavonoids, glabridin and glycycoumarin, were detected in the roots of G. glabra and G. uralensis, respectively, but neither flavonoid was detected in underground parts of the intermediate-types. HPLC analysis of their leaves indicated a significant difference among G. uralensis, G. glabra and the intermediate-type plants. Both G. glabra-specific and G. uralensis-specific compounds were detected in the leaves of the intermediate-type, thus suggesting that the intermediate plants are hybrids of G. glabra and G. uralensis.